Chinese lanterns glow in the wild at Toronto Zoo

A Chinese lantern festival at the Toronto Zoo is bringing wildlife and natural landscapes to life, marking two decades of Zigong lantern art in Canada while reflecting how a traditional craft has evolved to connect audiences across cultures.

"Glow in the Wild" opened in early September and runs through Jan 3, 2027. Featuring more than 2,000 lanterns, the exhibition combines traditional Chinese craftsmanship with illuminated wildlife and natural scenes.

This year's focus on nature distinguishes the exhibition from earlier displays that often featured Chinese architecture, mythology, dragons, phoenixes and folk traditions, said Joy Lin, project director of Zigong Lantern Culture Industry Group.

"We chose a theme that has greater international resonance — 'Color in Nature'," Lin told China Daily.

"While preserving the traditional craftsmanship of Zigong lantern-making, we have placed particular emphasis on artistically recreating the forms of the natural world," she said.

Zigong is a city in China's Sichuan province that is renowned for its vibrant lantern-making tradition.

For Dolf DeJong, chief executive officer of the Toronto Zoo, the exhibition offers a way to combine artistic creativity with the zoo's mission of connecting people with wildlife.

"What makes this art form particularly special is its ability to transform familiar subjects into extraordinary illuminated works of art," DeJong said. Through intricate designs, vibrant colors and craftsmanship, the lanterns offer visitors a different perspective on animals and their natural environments.

The exhibition also features Canadian species, including the loggerhead shrike and wood bison, alongside zoo favorites such as ring-tailed lemurs and tigers.

One installation tells the story of the endangered Blanding's turtle and was created in collaboration with an indigenous artist, linking traditional lantern art with local conservation efforts.

"By bringing these animals to life through traditional Chinese lantern artistry, we're able to celebrate the incredible diversity of wildlife while creating opportunities to spark conversations about conservation and the importance of protecting species at risk," DeJong told China Daily.

For the organizers, however, the experience extends beyond the individual displays. The arrangement of lanterns, the use of space and the atmosphere created by lighting and music all contribute to an exhibition designed to tell a story.

"We not only want visitors to see beautiful lanterns, but hope they enter the world created by the lanterns and experience surprise, curiosity and emotion," Lin said.

The relationship between Zigong lantern art and Canada dates back to 2006, when a large-scale lantern festival from Zigong was presented at Toronto's Ontario Place. Lin described the event as an important starting point for the art form's development in Canada.

Over the past 20 years, she said, the approach has evolved from cultural presentation toward integration, joint creation and cooperation.

"Successful international cultural exchange cannot simply involve replicating an exhibition that has worked in China and presenting it overseas.

"Different countries have different cultural backgrounds, aesthetic preferences and ways of life. For traditional art to become part of local society, we must understand the interests and emotional needs of local audiences and find themes that resonate across cultures," Lin said.

The Toronto Zoo exhibition reflects that approach. Rather than simply bringing finished lanterns to Canada, the Chinese team and its local partners worked together on the theme, artistic settings and visitor experience, incorporating the zoo's conservation and public education goals.